Press machine



July 8, 1941.

G. V. RHODES ErAL PRESS MACHINE Filed May 6, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 8, 1941- G. v. RHODES -ET AL 2,248,252

PRESS MACHINE Filed May 6, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 66 0/146 M Rhodes F4] 0/1044 'b/er I ATTORN Patented July 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v a 2,248,252 I a a v v rnEss MACHINE George V. Rhodes, Memphis,- Tenn., and Raymond J. Gabler,Kansas'Cit y-, Mo., assignor to Butler Manufacturing. Company, Kansas City, Mo., a.

corporation of'Missouri hu ming s, 1939; seriai N0. 2712,188

2' Claims. LCI.,,3836) Our invention relates to a press machine and more particularly to a garment pressing'm'achine.

In various pressing operations commonly performed in laundries, various deviceshave been employed for producing heavy pressure; Many of these devices operate by means of a toggle mechanism actuated from a foot pedal. The machines usually consist of a pedestal which supports. a buck around which the clothes are placed. "A pivoted pressing head is adapted to press the work between the buck and the head. A conduit for conducting steam communicates with the interior of the head so that steam may be turned on to supply the heat necessary for the pressing. In the devices of the prior art, the head is usually fitted with a handle by which it may be moved to position contacting the buck and pressure is applied in a separate operation by means of a foot pedal.

One object of our invention is to provide a novel pressing machine. assembly in which a single movement of a hand operating lever will pivot the head to pressing position and then exert the necessary pressure for the pressing operation without the necessity of operating a separate foot pedal. The arrangement is such that pressing may proceed at a more rapid rate in that but a single movement is required.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pressing machine showing one embodiment of our invention.

a Figure 2 is a rear view of the pressing machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the pressing machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3, showing the novel toggle assembly.

Referring now to the drawings, a stable pedestal is formed by means of a base member I and standard 2, supporting a frame 3. A buck support 4 carries a buck 5. The head 6 is carried by a Y piece 1 which is pivoted around a pivot pin 8. A handle 9 is carried by an operating lever l3 which is likewise pivoted around the pivot pin 8. The Y piece is formed with a rearwardly extending portion I l. supports a rod l4 to which a spring I5 is secured by means of an adjustable connection including a nut IS. The lower end of the spring I5 is secured to a hook I! formed upon the base member An arm I2 is pivoted at l3 and I. The action of the spring issu'ch as to counterbalance the head and associatedparts, tending to hold them in open position. The'shortarr'n- Hro't the Y'" piece is formed with a threaded portion 19 adapted tdrecive the adjustingscrew -18.

This can be seen readily by reference' to Figure 4'.

p The adjusting screw I8 is provided with a handle 23. Anut 2! is threaded upon thelowr portion of thescrew l8. It will be noted that the lower p'o'rtion'o'f screw I8 is provided with threads of opposite pitch than the upper portion of this screw. The arrangement'is'such that rotation of the handle 20 in one direction will tend to move the nut 2 I away from the portion l9 'oflthe arm' [1' of the Y piece I. The nut 2| is formed with 'a downwardly extending fork 22, as can readily be seen by reference to Figure 2. The fork, carries a pin: 23, to which is pivoted a link 24. A link 25 is pivotedby means of pin 21 to frame 3. The'uiipergehd of link 25 is provided with a fork 26. The links 24 and 25 are interconnected by means of a pin 28. By reference to Figure 4, it will be readily observed that the links 24 and 25 form a toggle mechanism. The operating lever I0 is formed with an arm 23 extending beyond the pivot pin 8. The end of arm 29 is connected to the pin 28 of the toggle linkage by means of a pair of links 39. The link 25 is formed with an extension 3!, carrying a buffer roller 32. The buffer roller is adapted to contact a disk 33 carried by piston rod 34, supported by a check cylinder 35. Any suitable means for damping the movement of the piston rod 34 may be provided.

The usual steam lines 36 are provided, communicating with the head 6.

In operation, the steam is turned on and the head 6 is heated. The steam flows constantly and the head is kept at a pressing temperature. The position of parts when the press is open is shown by the dotted lines in Figure 4. The spring I5 acting through the arm H of the Y piece, pivots the Y piece upwardly, carrying the head and operating lever clear of the buck. The article of wearing apparel to be pressed is arranged on the buck. The operating handle 9 is then grasped by the operator and pulled downwardly. This pivots the operating lever I'll around the pin 8. The arm 29 of the operating lever through the links 30 moves the pivot pin 28 rearwardly, tending to bring the links 25 and 24 into alignment. This action exerts a thrust upon the arm ll of the Y piece, moving it around pivot pin 8 ahead of the motion of the operating lever-Ill.

This motion continues until the head 6 contacts the buck 5. Further motion of the Y piece is then prevented. Continued motion of the operating lever 9 will continue to bring the links 25 and 24 into alignment exerting a pressure upon the articles being pressed, through the Y piece I.

The motion continues until the pin 28 is slightly beyond the line formed by pivot pins 23 and 21. This beyond dead center movement locks the head 6 in pressing position with a pressure predetermined by the adjustment of screw l8 by means of handle 20. After the article has been pressed, the operating lever is raised, unlocking the toggle linkage and permitting the spring l to pivot the parts to their open position shown in dotted lines. stopped by the engagement of the roller 32 with the buffer assembly comprising the check cylinder 35.

It will be observed that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided a simple pressing machine in which a single motion of an operating lever pivots the pressing head to pressing position and exerts the desired pressing pressure. By means of our pressing machine, We are enabled to rapidly and expeditiously press wearing apparel.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims without departing from the spirit of our invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a pressing machine, a frame, a buck supported by said frame, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said frame around a stationary pivot pin, one arm of said lever carrying a pressing head, the other arm of said lever extending rearwardly of said frame, a first link pivoted to said second arm, a second link pivoted to said first link at one of its ends by a movable pivot pin and to said frame at its other end, said first and second links forming a toggle linkage, an operating lever pivoted intermediate its ends at said stationary pivot pin, an operating handle carried by one arm of said operating lever, a link connecting the other arm of said operating lever to said movable pivot pin whereby movement of The upward movement is 1 said operating lever around said stationary pin will move said movable pivot pin to operate said toggle linkage to actuate said head.

2. In a pressing machine, a frame, a buck supported by said frame, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said frame around a stationary pivot pin, one arm of said lever carrying a pressing head, the other arm of said lever extending rearwardly of said frame, a member carried by said second arm, a first link pivoted to said member, a second link pivoted to said first link at one of its ends by a movable pivot pin and to said frame at its other end, said first and second links forming a toggle linkage, means upon said second arm for adjusting said member whereby the effective pivot point of said first link upon said second arm may be varied, an operating lever pivoted intermediate itsends around said stationary pivot pin, an operating handle carried by one arm of said operating lever, a link connecting the other arm of said operating lever to said movable pivot pin whereby movement of said operating lever around said stationary pin will move said movable pivot pin to operate said toggle linkageto actuate said head.

.GEORGE V. RHODES.

RAYMOND J. GABLER. 

